Project Overview

Mental health disorders impact one in four Canadians, yet our understanding of the brain and its relationship to mental illness is dwarfed by what we do not know. Brain imaging allows us to investigate both the structure and function of the brain in health and mental illness. However, despite concerted efforts over the past two decades, our ability to utilize brain imaging for diagnosis or predict treatment responses has not progressed. Research using various brain imaging techniques (or modalities) indicates that complex interactions of biochemical, structural, and functional changes are at play in mental illness. Nevertheless, most studies focus on a single imaging technique at a time, limiting our understanding to isolated aspects of these disorders. By integrating multiple imaging techniques, we can gain a more comprehensive view of the biochemical-structural-functional brain changes underlying mental illness ultimately enhancing our ability to diagnose and treat these conditions effectively.
Multi-modality imaging – where two or more brain imaging techniques are used simultaneously – holds great promise for advancing our understanding of how the brain’s biochemistry modulates its anatomical structure and function. However, these approaches are technically complex and relatively rare. As each additional modality is added, the level of expertise required increases significantly. Collaborative efforts are essential to harness the full potential of these advanced imaging methods, enabling researchers to gain deeper insights into brain function and mental health.

The Brain Imaging Centre (BIC) at The Royal Ottawa Health Care Group will advance neuroimaging research by providing unprecedented access to simultaneous multi-modal imaging through the BIC Advanced Multi-modal neuroimaging Platform for Psychiatry (BIC-AMPP). By providing access to multi-modal imaging (e.g., MRI, EEG), and fostering collaboration among expert scientists, the platform will deepen our understanding of brain structure and function in mental health, leading to more personalized interventions, and potentially transforming clinical practice.

Principal Investigator

Georg Northoff , University of Ottawa, Institute of Mental Health Research

Team Members

Stuart Fogel, IMHR

Natalia Jaworska, IMHR

Reggie Taylor, The University of Ottawa Institute of Mental Health Research

Lauri Tuominen, IMHR

Katie Dinelle, IMHR

Tram Nguyen, IMHR

Gayatri Saraf, The Ottawa Hospital

Jennifer Phillips, IMHR

Partners and Donors

Royal Ottawa Foundation for Mental Health